DIOECIA— DIANDRIA. Salix. 183 



the leaves being represented opposite, and strongly fringed, or 

 toothed. 



In osier-grounds and swamps. 



In rough low pastures at Ovington, near Watton, Norfolk, abun- 

 dantly, and truly wild. Mr. Crowe. On the banks of the Team, 

 Durham. M'inch. On the banks of the Clyde, frequent. Hop- 

 kirk. 



Tree, May. 



A handsome tree, of a moderate height, with plenty of nearly up- 

 right, smooth and shining, yellow branches, still more ornamen- 

 tal when they become drooping ; at all times rendering the 

 plant conspicuous, and distinguishable from every other Wil- 

 low. Leaves 2 or 3 inches long, lanceolate, tapering at each 

 end, narrow, with numerous fine cartilaginous serratures ; the 

 upper side green and smooth j under glaucous, more or less 

 besprinkled with silky hairs 3 both sides, in a young state, are 

 silky, with a silvery gloss. Footstalks rather short and thick, 

 smooth, like the branches, except when young. Stipulas rarely 

 seen -, when present very small, lanceolate, serrated, their up- 

 per or inner surface smooth ; and they mostly fall before the 

 leaves. Catkins early, tapering, yellow, on short lateral branches, 

 with a few broadish-lanceolate floral leaves, silky beneath ; the 

 barren ones 2 inches, fertile 1 inch, long. Scales of both lan- 

 ceolate, wrinkled, or wavy, more or less woolly. Sfam. 2, 

 rarely 3 5 when full-grown longer than their scale. Germ. 

 shorter than its scale, nearly or quite sessile, ovate, obtuse, 

 smooth. Style deeply cloven,' with blunt notched stigmas. The 

 nectary consists of \, 2, or 3 obtuse, yellow, notched scales, 

 but it is liable to several variations. 



The smoothness of the full-grown leaves, at least of their upper 

 side, has occasioned this species to be placed in the present 

 section, and not next to the .S. alba, to which in other charac- 

 ters, as well as general habit, it is so very near, that Haller took 

 it for a mere variety. Hoffmann observes that the liber, or 

 inner layer of the bark, is yellow, while that oi' the alha is green ; 

 but I have great doubts of the constancy of this character. 



.S. vitellina is cultivated for ornament, as well as for use as an 

 osier, the rods being tough and flexible, lit for many |)urposes 

 of basket- work, as well as for package. It has been introduced 

 from Euroi)e into North America, where, according to Mr. Pursh, 

 it is common by road sides, and in plantations. 



18. S. dcciplcns. White Welsh, or Varnished \\'illow. 



Leaves lanceolate, pointed, serrated, very siuooth : floral 

 ones partlv obovnle and recurved. Footstalks somewhat 

 plandular.* (Kriiicn taperinp:, ^talked, smooth. Style 



